Problematic Watering

Problematic watering is the bane of many gardeners existence. The reason for this is that with problematic watering often other difficulties will arise for your garden. Some of the common problems that may come about include root rot, wilting plants, plants that struggle to grow, and eventually death of your garden. If you have ever experienced these and other similar problems, then chances are the reason for it lies in problematic watering. Here are a few guidelines to ensure that your garden is free of problematic watering issues.

• Drainage. Proper drainage is a necessity in any type of garden, and most especially in planters and raised bed gardens. Without proper drainage, excess water will have no way to leave the planter, and end up just sitting in the bottom going stale and stagnant. Stagnant water will end up rotting the roots of your garden, and that will kill whatever you may have planted.
• Damaged hoses and pipes. When your pipes or hoses get damaged in some way, such as a crack, split, or even a kink in the hose, it will seriously impede the flow of water to your garden. Periodically check your garden hose to ensure that you have no splits or kinks, and if you do then go ahead and either repair or replace the hose. Pipes made from PVC, while strong, are still capable of being damaged. If you find your pipes have a blockage, or even a crack, then either clear the blockage, or replace the pipe.
• Nearby trees. Surprisingly, one of the most common causes of problematic garden watering is actually trees. Trees can, and often do, steal the water and nutrients that are meant for gardens. If you have trees near to your garden, then you will want to prune back the roots every couple of years. On the edge of your garden nearest to the tree, dig a small trench roughly two to three feet deep. If you come across any tree roots, use a hand saw and cut them. Refill the trench, and you should be fine. Repeat this as necessary every couple of years.
• Abnormal wilting. Many people get worried when they begin to see their garden plants wilting. However, it is quite common for plants and vegetables to wilt slightly during the afternoon hours. When the shade has reached your plants again, you should start to see them perking right up again within an hour. Wilting is only really abnormal if you see it in the morning. If that is the case, then check to make sure that you are watering your plants properly, as well as that your plants are not receiving too much sun.